Batman: White Knight is a 8 part limited series written by Sean Murphy and published by DC Comics.
Set in a separate continuity, it tells the story of Joker who has being cured of his madness and uses his real name of Jack Napier. Napier then reunites with Harley Quinn and sets out on a quest of redemption by saving Gotham City from Batman, whom he views as the "real villain" of Gotham City.
Synopsis[]
The Batmobile is driven into Arkham Asylum, its driver a clean and sane Joker asks to be taken to its main prisoner. The prisoner is revealed to be Batman, Joker then tells Batman that he needs his help.
The story then goes back a year earlier, Batman and his partners, Nightwing and Batgirl are shown perusing Joker through Gotham City. Both Nightwing and Batgirl are becoming concerned, as Batman is recklessly chasing Joker, not noticing or caring that he's causing massive destruction of property or nearly killing bystanders.
Batman then confronts Joker in an abandoned pharmaceutical warehouse. After a brief fight, Joker is forced fed an unknown medication by Batman after enraging him by saying he's the biggest threat to Gotham. Nightwing, Batgirl, Jim Gordon, Harvey Bullock, Renee Montoya and the rest of GCPD arrive at the warehouse and are shocked and disgusted by Batman's violent behavior, unbeknownst to them a woman secretly films the whole incident and gives it to the news. The "Bat Scandal" then causes the citizens of Gotham to begin wondering if Batman actually does more harm then good. After being confronted by Dick and Barbara for his violent behavior, Bruce reveals that Alfred is severely ill and that his despair of the situation has lead to his current behavior, he also reveals that he is working with Mr. Freeze in an attempt to cure both Alfred and Freeze's beloved wife Nora.
The Joker, having been made sane by the pills, begins using his real name of Jack Napier and wins a case against the GCPD for insufficient evidence and for allowing Batman to severely beat him. Jack is then freed and returns to Harley Quinn, however after proposing to her, she attacks him and insists that the pills have messed with his mind. Another Harley appears and saves him, revealing that she is the original Harley who left him and that the other is a hostage to fell in love with him after he took her hostage during a bank robbery. Taking Jack to her apartment, Harleen reveals that she left him after his obsession with Batman resulted in Joker torturing Jason Todd just to get his attention, Harleen then left to get Batman, but when they got back Jason Todd was gone and is body was never found.
Whilst trying to develop a cure for Alfred and Nora's illnesses
Characters[]
- Bruce Wayne/Batman -
- Jack Napier/The Joker -
- Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn -
- Dick Grayson/Nightwing -
- Barbra Gordon/Batgirl -
- James Gordon -
- Harvey Bullock -
- Renee Montoya -
- Alfred Pennyworth -
- Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze -
- Nora Fries -
- Marian Drews/Harley Quinn II/Neo Joker -
- Jervis Tetch/The Mad Hatter -
- Mayor Hamilton Hall -
- Dr. Leslie Thompkins -
- Jason Todd/Robin -
- Gotham City Rogue Gallery -
- Two-Face -
- Killer Croc -
- Scarecrow -
- Poison Ivy -
- The Riddler -
- Clayface -
- Roxy Rocket -
- Baby Doll -
Reception[]
Upon its release Batman: White Knight received widespread critical acclaim and quickly became one of the most popular Batman comics of recent years. The series massive success has lead fans to compare it to some of the greatest Batman comics ever written, such as The Dark Knight Returns, Batman: The Long Halloween and Batman: Earth One.